Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Roy Jankielsohn MPL and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
– SAPS ineffective and unable to react to senseless slaughter of lambs due to a lack of resources.
– Farmers are targets of crime due to police shortcomings.
– DA believes in decentralising policing functions
The theft of 45 sheep and the senseless slaughter of 20 lambs at Steynsrus expose the threats facing our rural communities, especially our farmers and farm workers in the Free State. The lambs were allegedly slaughtered because they could not keep up with their mothers during the stock theft incident.
SAPS stock theft units are ineffective due to their distance from crime scenes and lack of support, such as vehicles and personnel. Furthermore, local SAPS stations are under-resourced in terms of personnel and vehicles and are therefore unable to respond timeously to reports of crime or carry out necessary visible policing patrols.
Farmers and farm workers remain vulnerable to crimes and criminals who are using policing shortcomings to their advantage. Farmers are forced to pay the price of increased rural crime through increased crime-related losses, but also by ensuring their own security through additional security measures on their property, such as cameras and alarm systems, private security and farm patrols.
The DA believes in decentralising policing functions, the use of state-sponsored technology such as drones and cameras, supporting local SAPS with resources, improved crime intelligence and fast reaction rural safety units. These measures are included in the DA’s rural safety policy, which will be implemented when the DA is in government, the only one of its kind at the political party level.
Farmers are provincial assets that must be protected and nurtured. The DA will continue to stand with our farmers and fight for a Free State where agriculture can thrive, residents feel safe, and towns work for all.